Waymo has announced it will be working with the navigation app Waze to turn its autonomous fleet of vehicles into a rolling network of road inspectors, launching a pilot program aimed at helping cities identify and fix potholes more quickly.
The move pairs Waymo’s sensor-based detection capabilities with Waze’s crowdsourced reporting platform, giving municipalities a real-time picture of road conditions. The data would then be shared through Waze’s platform, where it will sit alongside reports submitted by everyday drivers.
Waymo says its vehicles use a combination of cameras, sensors systems, and actual physical feedback to detect irregularities in the road surface. That includes potholes, which can damage vehicles and endanger cyclists and pedestrians. The pilot will see information automatically recorded and shared with local agencies, and could lead to a reduction in the need for traditional reporting methods like 311 calls and manual inspections, says Waymo…